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Painting a license plate

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Kerry67, Nov 26, 2013.

  1. Kerry67
    Joined: Apr 11, 2005
    Posts: 2,606

    Kerry67
    Member

    Is it legal to paint a license plate ? I want to paint it to match my car, not altering a number or anything just paint a different color.
     
  2. dentisaurus
    Joined: Dec 11, 2006
    Posts: 399

    dentisaurus
    Member
    from Boston

    Not in MASS, they don't want you to touch the plate at all I believe.
     
  3. TagMan
    Joined: Dec 12, 2002
    Posts: 6,300

    TagMan
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    You're not supposed to re-paint plates in NYS, either.

    I have re-painted plate in the original colors and have never had a problem, however. I wouldn't paint them to match the car - you'd just be asking for trouble, IMO..
     
  4. FalconMan
    Joined: Sep 9, 2008
    Posts: 1,404

    FalconMan
    Member
    from Minnesota

    You can in Minnesota... at least everyone does....
     

  5. aonemarine
    Joined: Nov 2, 2013
    Posts: 500

    aonemarine
    Member
    from Delaware

    suppose it depends on where you are, here they want to make the money on custom tags, so its a no no...
     
  6. blowby
    Joined: Dec 27, 2012
    Posts: 8,661

    blowby
    Member
    from Nicasio Ca

    Just make sure you don't have any outstanding warrants.
     
  7. It depends on the state, actually. There are some that allow restoration of YOM-eligible plates/tags. Just ask the question to your state licensing authority. Too easy.
     
  8. tfeverfred
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 15,791

    tfeverfred
    Member Emeritus

    Looks like it's okay in Virginia. ^^^
     
  9. Here in Oregon, when I registered the YOM plates on the '35, the DMV checked to make sure they were the right colors.
     
  10. barqsnut
    Joined: Jun 11, 2008
    Posts: 200

    barqsnut
    Member
    from Pearl, MS

    In a lot of states unless you just come across a hard ass, most cops don't worry about things like that with "specialty cars." I have a friend here in MS who drives a vintage race prepped MGA quite frequently and doesn't even have a place for a plate and has never even been stopped.
     
  11. Model T1
    Joined: May 11, 2012
    Posts: 3,309

    Model T1
    Member

    Why not do a search and see what the answers were a dozen other times!

    But the real answer is NO!
    Still we do it. But we do lots of things we aren't supposed to do. Get it checked by the state first.
     
  12. tfeverfred
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 15,791

    tfeverfred
    Member Emeritus

    That's 'cause they know they can catch him.:D
     
  13. In CA,it's a bitch to get past the DMV with a painted plate.....
    Once your past them-go for it as long as your colors are damn close.
     
  14. In my opinion I think in NYS shortening, louvering, and using candy apple red maybe a touch too far. The message here keep it as original as the "boys in college" made it.
     
  15. South Carolina says no,,but most of them that I see have been restored but not painted a obviously different color.

    Mine was repainted before it was given to me from a fellow hamber.HRP

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Nov 26, 2013
    cfmvw likes this.
  16. Kerry, if you are still in AZ, the answer is no. If you are talking a YOM plate, they have to see the actual plate to approve it, and they are sticklers with the correct colors.

    That said, if you painted a YOM plate correctly, got it approved and repainted it after, honestly, most cops would never say aword,,,,,,,, but most and all are not interchangable words ;)
     
  17. Texas should be Repainted the correct color.
     
  18. spooler41
    Joined: Feb 25, 2007
    Posts: 1,099

    spooler41
    Member

    Have you ever thought about painting your car to match your plates, that would be much
    less risky .

    ..................Jack
     
  19. LOW LID DUDE
    Joined: Aug 16, 2007
    Posts: 1,223

    LOW LID DUDE
    Member
    from Colorado

    Now that was a great reply,LOL. Some cops don't have a seance of humor.
     
  20. GassersGarage
    Joined: Jul 1, 2007
    Posts: 4,726

    GassersGarage
    Member

    Check your local vehicle code. There's usually a law against tampering with a license. The ones that do are restorations using the same colors. Using a different color is a dead giveaway.
     
  21. woodiewagon46
    Joined: Mar 14, 2013
    Posts: 2,277

    woodiewagon46
    Member
    from New York

    New York State requires a picture of an unrestored vintage plate. After my car was registered I restored the plate (1946 is a one plate year because of a shortage of steel after WW2). After all who is going to know if it's restored or not! I would not however change the color, thats asking for trouble.
     
  22. In Florida the plate has to be original, no repaint, or mods.
    You cannot do anything to it afterwards either, as they put the registration sticker on it after it has been approved.
     
  23. Alabama had no problem with this one
     

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  24. Jack M
    Joined: Jul 11, 2010
    Posts: 8

    Jack M
    Member
    from Oregon

    I took mine to the DMV and got them approved and immediately painted the to match the car with flames on them.
    Never had a cop ask me about them.
     
  25. Jokester
    Joined: Jan 29, 2005
    Posts: 688

    Jokester
    Member

    It's easier to get forgiveness than permission. Don't ask; don't tell.

    .bjb
     
  26. GassersGarage
    Joined: Jul 1, 2007
    Posts: 4,726

    GassersGarage
    Member

    Just a hassle if you get a ticket. Getting the ticket signed off if you get caught, then turning it in to the court. In California, you have to pay $10+ to get it signed off. Torrance PD charges $33.
     
  27. Roger Walling
    Joined: Sep 26, 2010
    Posts: 1,149

    Roger Walling
    Member

    I had a job making licence plates once, 4 to 6 years.
     
  28. Lou39
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 128

    Lou39
    Member
    from Cedar, MI

    Michigan requires a COLOR pic if you registering a YOM plate and it must be correct colors. The DOT specifically says you may not paint it car colors.
     
  29. oldsjoe
    Joined: May 2, 2011
    Posts: 2,607

    oldsjoe
    Member

    Just wondering what State still has policemen with the memory of the color of plates from the 30s,40s,50s or 60s? I'm sure they have more pressing issues than what color plate should be on a Hot Rod! Unless of course your out smoking tires or street racing! But the local DMV will let you know the law in your particular state!
     
  30. 1badbaker
    Joined: Aug 25, 2010
    Posts: 183

    1badbaker
    Member

    Ohio makes you bring them in to the DMV office, they then make a color copy of the plates. They also check to make sure there the correct colors. If they are not correct they will not approve them.
     

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